MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A mother charged in connection with the physical abuse of her son in the months before his death was convicted Thursday.
Rena Santiago pleaded no contest to neglect of a child causing death, repeated physical abuse of a child, and chronic neglect of a child causing emotional damage. She will be sentenced May 26, court records show.
Earlier this week, David Heiden was sentenced to life in prison for causing the April death of Gilbert Grant II. He shook the child, causing his death.
But court documents outlined months of abuse before that incident.
Santiago, “admitted that over the past 8 months the victim has been hit by the defendant and her two roommates. (Santiago) admitted that she and the other roommates have hit the victim with their open hands, with a shoe, and with a belt repeatedly over the last several months. (Santiago) said she witnessed all of the physical discipline and approved of it,” a probable cause report says.
A third suspect, Bianca Bush, returns to court March 4 for a scheduling conference; no trial date has been set.
